The public libraries of Philadelphia have long since been organizing programs and events for their patrons to enjoy and take advantage of.
Philadelphia public libraries offer GED services, computer classes, culinary literacy programs, and after-school programs for children. These offerings help bolster the community around them and are beneficial in improving the education and knowledge of the people in all aspects of life. One of the interesting programs the public library holds is a rare book roadshow.
The process by which the programs are divided depends on each of the many departments of the library—the art department, the children’s department, the education philosophy department, and the government department—chosen by the employees of each respective corner of the library.
The rare book collection department, one of the oldest at the public library, has been running this program for quite some time. Created in 1949, it is one of the largest public library collections in the country and allows people to examine near-perfectly preserved literary materials that hold great historical significance. While different libraries host different programs, the Parkway Central Library is gearing up to open its rare books exhibit for this year.
Each program varies in how long it operates. Some only last a singular day, while others, like the roadshow, can go on for months. Currently, the roadshow is going on until the department itself opens in late May/early June of this year.
According to an employee at the Rare Book department, there are six Rare Book department staff. The selection of the books depends on who is assigned to do the roadshow on any given day; they subsequently choose which book to highlight or display. The roadshow typically happens every weekday. However, because of the closing of the department and the reading room, the public will not be able to visit and see the books until the end of spring, when it plans to open to the public once more.
In addition to the rare book roadshow, the department holds tours daily at 11 a.m., giving individuals and interested groups a chance to look at the material from the collections in a special way.
The department also allows group visits—early elementary school students, graduate school students, senior citizens, and book club members are all frequent visitors, as the department employee shared. Researchers also flock to the Rare Book Department to view the collections on hand.
The department plans to open to the public in early June after the HVAC construction is finished.
